Improvement in velocipede



J. FRAZE R & J.- AUSTIN;

velocipede. No; 91,734. Patented June 22, 1869,

165x11 I dd/fia fa mmzar M aw away 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. FRAZER & J. AUSTIN.

Velqcipede.

'No. 91,734. Paten ted June 22, 1869.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

fillniied glam J 'FRA-SER AND JONATHAN AUSTIN, OF NEW YORK, N.Z Y.

Letters Patent No. 91,734, dated June 22, 1869.

IMPROVELIENT IN VELOOIP EDE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part 0! thesame.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, J. FRASER and JONATHAN AUSTIN, both of the city,county, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved UnicycleVelocipede; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact description thereof, referones being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of our improvedvelocipede, as constructed for aquatic use Figure 2 is a verticalsection of the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of ourvelocipede, as constructed for useupon land; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the annular wheel, a portion of thespokes being omitted.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the propelling-car, the seat andguiding-apparatus being removed.

Figure 6. is a front elevation of the steering or guid- The nature ofour invention consists essentially in the employment of an annular wheelor rim, constructed as hereinafter described, and arranged to receive inits interior or central space, an independent car, for the rider, havingpropelling-mechanism, or erated by the feet or hands, or by bothconjoiutly, the propulsion being effected by moving the weight of therider and the propelling-mechanism forward of a line perpendicular withthe imaginary axis of said annular wheel, thereby causing its rotationalong the ground, or other medium on which it rests. Said annular wheelto be made of light skeleton form, for use exclusively on the land, butwhen designed for aquatic use, or for either-purpose alternately, to beformed by enclosing the sides, so as to form an annular trunk, andaifixiug ribs or braces to the external sides.

It also consists in the device for governing and directing the course ofthe same, whether employed on land or water. In carrying our inventioninto practice, we prefer to use, for land-purposes, a'single externalrim, A, with two rings of lesser diameter, B B, arranged concentricallywithin the former, at unequal distances each side of its planer The twointerior rings are of equal diameter, and connected together bytransverse pieces or rods 0 c, and with the outer rim by the convergingradial spokes d d, uniting the three firmly together, or by any othermode of construction which combines strength and lightness.

Thus constructed, the two inner rings B B form a circular trackor'railway, and on this we place a propolling-car, having grooved wheelsff running upon the track so formed.

These wheels have their bearings iu'a suitable frame,

e e, which supports a seat, g, for thcrider, which is preferablysituated over the rear wheels, and for ladies use, should be broadepough to project-over and prevent their dress comiug in contact withthe wheels.

In addition thereto, suitable guards may be attached to the frame,surrounding, or nearly enclosing both pairs of wheels, with whichprovision a lady may use our velocipede while arrayed in the customarystyle of female dress, without danger of entanglement, or of soiling thesame.

Motion may be imparted to the car by any suitable mechanism, but we.prefer to employ that which will enable both the feetand bands to beemployed together or separately.

We therefore construct'the axles of the car with double cranks,;andconnect with' one, (preferably the rear one,) a pair of uprighthand-levers, h it.

These have their, fulcra on the forward axles, and I are connected withthe cranks of the rear az de i, (see in fig. 5,) by the usualconnection-rods j j.

The forward axlck is also provided with double cranks, which areoperated by the feet of the rider.

.The car being put in motion by the rider, in advaucing, .ascends theconstant incline of its circular track, causing the annular wheel torevolve or roll upon the ground, or other medium on which it tests,

the equilibrium. being more easily maintained by the rider than with theordinarybicycle, in consequence of the weight being below'the axis ofthe annular wheel, and near the ground, instead of above.-

On this account it is better adapted to ladies, and timid riders of bothsexes, while if accidentally overturned, no harm is likely to occur tothe occupant, as she (or he) may'simply step off the car on the oppositeside from which it falls, alighting on the feet without injury, andwithout being entangled with or thrown under the vehicle.

The device for guiding or cbntrolling the direction is attached to theframe 0, of the car, at its forward end, and consists of a ball orweight, Z, supported at an elevation which may be equal to but not abovethe axis of the annular wheel.

v The supporting-rod is jointed or flexible, to admit of the position ofthe ball being adjustable laterally in either direction, from thelongitudinal centre, and a simple arrangement for holding it in therequired position, consists of the standard m, with a cross-head, 12,provided with a series of notches, to receive and retain the ball-rod,butallowing it to be readily changed at the will of the rider. Thisresult may be effected cycle, the latter will be perfectly balanced, andwill, in moving, advance in a direct line, maintaining a perpendicularposition; but if the ball be moved to either side, the preponderance ofweight is in that direction, and the course of the vehicle will bevaried accord ingly; and as its position is nearest the forward part,the wheel obeys this influence of gravitation .with alacrity, the ballleading themachine, as it were.

By this simple and philosophical means, perfect control is had, .withthe greatest ease'to the rider.

The only change of construction necessary to adapt our unicycle toaquatic service, is to construct the annular wheel in such a manner asto be water-tight.

This is! most readily and cheaply done by making it of sheet-metal, asshown in figs. 1 and 2.

In this form, it constitutes an annular trunk, filled with a-ir, whichrenders it so buoyant that it will not sink if overturned,.and willmaintain a considerable load in any position.

The joint at the periphery is carried out sharp, to form a suitablekeel, the sides being curved to conform to the most approved shape inmachine-engineering.

Its annular form secures great strength with lightnessof material, andadditional stability is obtained by applying the radial webs, or ribs 0o to the outer sides, which serve a special purpose, as paddles, toprevent the slip of the hull by the resistance of the water.

Movable ballast, as mercury, or shot, may be carried in the annularwheel, if required.

requisite weight on the ground, the same apparatus may be used eitherfor land or water.

The 'landf-unicycle may be made with the outer rim double, if preferred.

The diameter of the external rim of the unicycle may vary according tothe size of the person, but six to six and one half feet will be found.most suitable for adults.

A miniature size, having the car provided with a spring and clock-work,for automatic propulsion, with a doll occupying the seat, forms anamusing adaptaa-round the floor of a room, or upon a table, until themotive-power is expended.

\Vhat we claim as our invention, and .desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

l. A unicycle, formed by the combination of a single narrow tread and abroad rim, the latter being supported on the former, through the mediumof diverging spokes, constitutinga triangular frame to bear thedouble-track, substantially as set forth.

2. The unicycle, constructed with double tracks, supported on a closedwinged apartment, forming an annular trunk, which terminates in a keel,substantially as and for the purpose described.

weight or ball, operating substantially as set forth.

4. A unicycle, consisting of an annular wheel, having a double bearingrim, B, propelling-car, with hand and foot-levers, and a guiding-device,when constructed Witnesses:

KATE V. J onus, RoLLm Gnmmm.

tion of the invention as a toy, which, by the guidinga device, may beset to move continuously in a circle The guiding-device, consist-ing ofthe adjustable.

